Comments on: Checking in on the… Big 12http://rushthecourt.net/2009/03/01/checking-in-on-the%e2%80%a6-big-12-5/
The Independent Voice of College BasketballTue, 13 Feb 2018 19:41:53 +0000hourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.4By: JDShttp://rushthecourt.net/2009/03/01/checking-in-on-the%e2%80%a6-big-12-5/comment-page-1/#comment-2336
Wed, 04 Mar 2009 04:52:40 +0000http://rushthecourt.net/?p=5628#comment-2336once again, ksu demonstrates a better performance against OSU than Texas on the road. Does anyone else ever tire of Texas, look at the TT game AT HOME, never playing well in the conference?
]]>By: TBhttp://rushthecourt.net/2009/03/01/checking-in-on-the%e2%80%a6-big-12-5/comment-page-1/#comment-2321
Tue, 03 Mar 2009 14:46:13 +0000http://rushthecourt.net/?p=5628#comment-2321Nobody from K-State is arguing that our non-conference schedule provides us with any support. That’s an argument we have to concede. But right now, our run through the Big 12 should be an argument in our favor that other teams cannot dismiss. As Frank Martin said yesterday, if the Big 12 schedule doesn’t matter, we might as well become an independent so that our games this time of year do matter. I agree that tonight’s game with Oklahoma State is key. It will probably be the make-or-break game in terms of whether I keep making an argument that K-State deserves to be in the NCAA Tournament.

Again, however, I have to disagree with you that K-State benefits from playing in the Big 12 North. As I mentioned, the Big 12 North is 14-14 against the South this season. That includes a woeful 1-9 record from Colorado and Iowa State, meaning that KU, Missouri, K-State, and to some extent Nebraska have more than held their own against their southern competition. Don’t believe me? Ask Texas about playing at home against Missouri and K-State, or on the road against Nebraka. Ask Texas A&M how well it defended its home court against K-State, or how it got spanked on the road against KU. Ask Oklahoma State about trying to defend its home court against Missouri or its trip to Lawrence. The simple fact is that the North is at least on par with the South this year. Look at the polls. I see KU and Missouri comfortably in the top 25; the only South team I see is Oklahoma.

If K-State’s eight conference wins thus far included two wins against Iowa State, two wins against Colorado, two wins over Nebraska, one win over Texas Tech, and a win over Baylor late in the year after they tanked, I would concede your point that we don’t have much to argue about over the South. But to say that we couldn’t compete in the South after the record we’ve compiled this year ignores the facts. We won in Austin. We won in College Station. We hammered Texas Tech. Our losses were to Baylor before they tanked and an Oklahoma team with a healthy Blake Griffin. I’d say we’ve acquitted ourselves quite well against the South, and we have a chance to hammer home that argument tonight in Stillwater.

You do make some good valid points as far as the other three bubble contenders against the top of the league. However, when Kansas St. is going to hang their hat and depend on their conference performance to make their season, then it becomes more of a black eye for them since they have nothing else as a backup. With 7 non-conference games against teams ranked 242 and lower (3 games 331 and lower), Kansas St. can only claim Cleveland St. as their best win outside of the Big 12.

Texas, Texas A&M and Oklahoma St. have a lot more to hang their hat on outside of the Big 12. Unfortunately, the Big 12 south has kind of cannibalized itself with really none of them outside of Oklahoma really separating themselves while Kansas and Missouri have been able to in the North. Yes Kansas St. is 2-0 against those other three teams, but if one of other teams played in the north and only had to play each team once like Kansas St. gets to do, then I’m sure they would be 2-0 as well not having to play them twice because of the way the North and South schedule. The total body of work is what is starting to make Kansas St. be on the outside looking in. If it came down to taking three of the four teams–at this point I think Kansas St. would be at the bottom of those 4 which is why I had the teams ranked that way.

But you know what, if Kansas St. can win those final two games, then I might think differently. I think the K-State/Okie St. game is pretty key for Kansas St. more than it is for Oklahoma St. because Oklahoma St. still has an advantage playing in the south that they get another crack at Oklahoma. I guess we’ll just have to see.

]]>By: TBhttp://rushthecourt.net/2009/03/01/checking-in-on-the%e2%80%a6-big-12-5/comment-page-1/#comment-2309
Tue, 03 Mar 2009 04:54:21 +0000http://rushthecourt.net/?p=5628#comment-2309While ignoring all other aspects of the argument over who is more deserving of a bid out of the Big 12, I would like to point out an omission in your analysis above. You note that K-State is only 1-4 against KU, Mizzou and Oklahoma, the top three teams in the Big 12. Yet you fail to mention the records of the other three bubble contenders. Those records are as follows:

Oklahoma State: 0-3, with a road game against Oklahoma remaining
Texas: 1-3, with a game at KU remaining
Texas A&M: 0-3, with a home game against Missouri remaining

Also, I think it’s relevant to look at the records of the bubble teams against each other.

K-State: 2-0, with a game at Oklahoma State remaining
Oklahoma State: 2-2 (split with UT and TAMU, home game against K-State remaining)
Texas: 2-3 (split with TAMU and OSU, lost at home to K-State)
Texas A&M: 2-3 (split with UT and OSU, lost at home to K-State)

I know you didn’t bring up this argument, but while I’m beating the drum it might as well be mentioned. Unlike in previous years, K-State can’t be knocked for playing in the North. First of all, it won in Austin and College Station. Second, the North and South have evenly split 28 games this season, and the North will have two of the top three teams (KU and Mizzou) in the conference, and possibly three of the top four if K-State nabs the last first-round bye for the conference tournament in Oklahoma City.

All that said, I admit I have ignored the many flaws on K-State’s resume, and I would and will address those in a full post sometime in the near future.